Page:Macaula yʼs minutes on education in India, written in the years 1835, 1836 and 1837 (IA dli.csl.7615).pdf/19

Rh Benares Local Committee.—I cannot agree with Mr. Sutherland. The conduct of Colonel * * * has, by his own acknowledgment, been indiscreet and improper. He owns that he had brought these Bengalees into a scrape. He owns that he has talked without due caution on the subject of their dispute with Mr. Nicholls. When the fullest allowance is made for the unguarded style of private correspondence, I cannot think that his letters hold out any great hopes that his introduction into the Local Committee would render the proceedings of that body more discreet or more harmonious. Of Mr. Nicholls, he says that, though a good man, he is no orientalist. Now, we did not send Mr. Nicholls to Benares as an orientalist, and if Colonel * * * thinks that we did, he is evidently unacquainted with the whole system, on which we are proceeding. I may be mistaken, but from the tone of the Colonel’s letters, it appears to me that he dislikes the principles on which we now propose to give education to the people of India, and that therefore, however, excellent his intentions may be, he is not a fit person to be a member of a body which is bound to act on those principles.

I dislike also what he says about the necessity of putting military men on the Committee as a check on the Civilians. Hitherto we have never, to the best of my belief, been troubled by any such idle jealousies. I would appoint the fittest men without caring to what branch of the service they belonged, or whether they belonged to the service at all.

I think it highly probable that Mr. Nicholls may be to blame, because I have seldom known a quarrel in which both parties were not to blame. But I see no evidence that he is so, except the assertion of the two Bengalees who are interested and hostile parties, and who have certainly put themselves in the wrong by the very irregular and disrespectful course which, under the guidance of Colonel * * *, they pursued. Nor do I see any evidence which tends to prove that Mr. Nicholls leads the local Committee by the nose. The Local Committee appear to have acted with perfect propriety; and I cannot consent to treat them in the manner recommended by Mr. Sutherland. It is plain that if we appoint Colonel * * * to be a member of their body, we shall in effect pass a most severe censure on their proceedings. I therefore most strongly dissent from this proposition.

At the same time I admit that the Committee is too small, and it is desirable to make an addition to it. But as I do not see that the present members have deserved at our hands any but the most respectful treatment, as they appear to understand our views, and as they must be far better acquainted